Business Watch

Business Watch Participants

Purpose of Business Watch

To prevent crime from taking place in and around our businesses
To increase communication and a sense of community between local business owners

Business Watch is an RCMP-supported crime prevention program which utilizes a network of business owners to share community updates. It is a collaborative program between business owners, community policing, and the RCMP, who work together to protect our local businesses from crime and mischief.

Why become a member?

There are many benefits of having your business participate in the Business Watch program. Members of the program will have access to Community Policing’s staff who are trained in the police reporting process, crime prevention education, and a network of other active business owners trying to make a change.

Are you ready to join?

Are you:

Committed to deterring crime in your area and surrounding businesses?
A team player who will communicate concerns to other businesses?
Committed to alerting other businesses of crime and theft quickly?

Do you own or manage a business?

Are you concerned with crime at your business or the surrounding area?

Would you like to help protect your own or surrounding businesses?

Are you ready to become actively involved in reducing crime in the business community?

If so, we would like to have you as a Business Watch participant!

Why does Business Watch work?

Business Watch is an effective program because offenders look for easy targets to steal from or vandalize. A network that communicates efficiently makes it significantly harder for an individual to commit a crime or to repeat the same crime in the community. Business Watch combines an efficient network with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design or CPTED principles. This combination makes our participating businesses a harder target and makes an offender more likely to be caught, which reduces attempted crime.

Business Watch is also supported by the RCMP and increases efficiency in contacting the Shawnigan Lake RCMP with concerns surrounding crime and mischief in the area.

Business Watch Application

Complete the application form to join the Business Watch program. This program is run in collaboration with Cowichan Community Policing & Engagement Society and the Shawnigan Lake RCMP. Upon joining Business Watch, you agree to:

Receive updates on crime concerns in the Cowichan Valley and Shawnigan Lake areas and share concerns you have to Community Policing and the RCMP
Receive crime prevention material tailored to Business Watch from South Cowichan Community Policing & Engagement Society
Join a network of business owners with similar concerns an, building a sense of community between business owners
Be committed to reducing and preventing crime and crime opportunity in the business community

Business Watch Sign Up

Business Watch Crime Prevention Tips

Crime prevention is most effective when it is a community-wide effort. The more eyes and ears in our community, the fewer opportunities there are to commit crime.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

One of the main ways businesses can protect themselves from crime is by using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design techniques. These techniques focus on making crime harder to commit. Here are some CPTED tips to consider for your business:

Use dead bolt locks on all doors
Have a visible alarm system
Have a visible CCTV or security camera system
Leave an interior light on at night
Leave an exterior on at night
Keep a well-maintained appearance of the interior and exterior of your business and remove graffiti
Keep only small amounts of cash on hand and put up a sign stating so
Put up mirrors in your business to see around corners or areas currently blocked by product